Match Preview: Sinner vs. Spizzirri (AO26 Round 3)
Fixture: Jannik Sinner (2) vs. Eliot Spizzirri Tournament: Australian Open 2026 Round: Third Round Venue: Rod Laver Arena Date: January 24, 2026
The third round of the 2026 Australian Open brings a classic “David vs. Goliath” narrative to the Rod Laver Arena as World No. 2 Jannik Sinner takes on the rising American talent Eliot Spizzirri. While Sinner has cruised through the opening week with efficiency, Spizzirri has battled through gritty encounters to earn his shot at one of the tournament’s heavy favorites.
Path to Round 3
Jannik Sinner (ITA) The Italian superstar has had a relatively comfortable start to his campaign, conserving vital energy for the second week.
- R1: Defeated H. Gaston (Retirement) – Sinner led 6-2, 6-1 before Gaston retired.
- R2: Defeated J. Duckworth (6-1, 6-4, 6-2) – A dominant straight-sets victory.
Sinner’s recent form is imperious. Coming off a deep run at the 2025 ATP World Tour Finals and a strong showing in Paris, he looks dialed in and fresh.
Eliot Spizzirri (USA) In contrast, Spizzirri has had to fight for every point, showing remarkable resilience.
- R1: Defeated J. Fonseca in four sets.
- R2: Defeated Y. Wu in a five-set marathon (6-2, 6-4, 6-7, 4-6, 6-3).
Spizzirri entered 2026 with a career-high ranking of 85, a massive leap from previous years, and has proven he can handle pressure moments, having navigated the qualifiers and early rounds of Auckland earlier this month.
Keys to the Match
For Eliot Spizzirri: Discipline and Aggression
To pull off the upset, Spizzirri must play a near-perfect offensive game while maintaining composure.
- Clean Serving is Vital: He cannot afford to give Sinner free points. The key will be using clean serving to stay in service games and avoiding double faults that release pressure on the Italian.
- Attack the Second Serve: Spizzirri needs to step inside the baseline on Sinner’s second serves to take charge of the rallies early. If he plays passively, Sinner will dictate.
- Stop the Momentum: If Sinner breaks early, Spizzirri must lock down by mixing his serve placement to keep the Italian guessing.
For Jannik Sinner: Variety and Pressure
Sinner is the superior ball-striker, but he will look to disrupt the American’s rhythm rather than just overpower him.
- Punish the Second Serve: Sinner will look to attack Spizzirri’s second serves aggressively, aiming to put him on the back foot immediately.
- Extend the Rallies: Using his superior physical conditioning, Sinner will try to draw out longer rallies where his consistency is likely to force errors from the American.
- The Element of Surprise: Expect Sinner to mix in drop shots to pull Spizzirri forward, opening up the court for easy passing shots.
Prediction
Eliot Spizzirri has shown incredible heart to reach this stage, particularly surviving a five-setter against Wu. However, recovering from that physical toll to face the fresh legs of the World No. 2 is a monumental task.
Sinner possesses the firepower to neutralize Spizzirri’s aggression and the tactical variety to exploit the American’s movement. While Spizzirri may push hard in the opening set fueled by the Rod Laver Arena atmosphere, Sinner’s consistency and experience on the big stage should see him through comfortably.
Prediction: Jannik Sinner in straight sets.
Winner to face: K. Khachanov or L. Darderi in Round 4.
